Okay, the title “Could I be the Next Food Blog Star?”, is just a joke, as almost 2000 talented featured publishers will compete over the next 12 weeks, from September 20 to December 06 to be the Next Food Blog Star. This project is called Project Food Blog and it is a competition where Foodbuzz Featured Publishers will participate in a series of culinary blogging challenges. Contestants will be eliminated after this first challenge down to only 400 individuals, and will continue to be eliminated until there remains only one. The winner will win $10,000 and have a special feature on Foodbuzz for a year! I will consider myself very, “VERY”, very lucky, if I make it to the second challenge!!

Entries are voted on by Foodbuzz Featured Publisher peers and rated by a panel of judges including:

Dana Cowin – Editor-in-Chief of FOOD & WINE Magazine

Nancy Silverton – Founder La Brea Bakery, Co-owner Mozza

Pim Techamuanvivit – Author of ChezPim.com and The Foodie Handbook

Winners advance to the next challenge, including one lucky Reader’s Choice winner who earns auto advancement to the next challenge (solely based on Reader votes; not applicable in the final round).

This is something like the Next “Top Chef” for food bloggers or will it just be “Kitchen Nightmares?”.

Now I can’t tell a lie. I’ve struggled with the decision to participate or not for a few days now.

After the death of my brother, I was feeling depressed and it felt like the sadness will never let up. It is very difficult for me to get over it and although a few weeks ago I made up my mind that I would not participate, as I didn’t want to add more pressure to my life but from previous experience I also know that the best therapy is to move on with my life

I debated with myself whether to participate or not and decided that it would be a good way to distract myself from my sorrows and here I am entering this as a personal challenge to myself.

The first challenge is about what defines me as a food blogger and why I should be the next food blog star.

Regarding what defines me as a blogger, that’s easy. I love food and I love sharing it with people. I started writing down my recipes primarily that one day my children may decide to cook so when I write the recipes, it’s like talking to my children and giving them step by step instructions on what to do and try to document this with pictures as well. They don’t know much about their Cypriot origin as they were born and raised in Greece, so I also try and document whatever I remember from my life in Cyprus.

However, I also discovered that I love interacting with people through blogging as in real life I am really a closed person and do not open up easily.

Why I should be the next Food Blog Star? Well I think I have already answered that.

I’m not sure how far I’ll advance in Project Food Blog but I’m looking forward to participate and compete against some great food bloggers and I hope you’ll want to join me for the ride. As I already said, I would consider myself very lucky if I would make it to the second challenge.

When the time for voting comes, I promise not to bombard you all the time with “Vote for me” tweets but I will inform you, here on the blog.

Voting for entries on the first challenge will kick off September 20th. There will be an official voting window for all entries which will begin 15 hours after the submissions window closes. Voting will not commence on any entries until official voting begins.

Anyone can vote so long as you are a Foodbuzz member. Your support is always appreciated and if you are not a member you will have to register. Apart from the voting procedure you will have the chance to meet thousands of talented food bloggers and find drool worthy recipes from around the world.

In the meantime, you can check out my Project Food Blog contestant profile here or from the widget at the sidebar.

I am so sorry for your loss, I saw you twittered me and that's how I found you! I do not usually read long blogs, but your writing style is so awesome- it kept my attention straight through!! That says a lot. I wish you all the best in the challenge. I am an underdog, myself! It will be fun, anyway. I think your brother would be proud of you taking on the challenge. My prayers for you and your family through this time, that your heart may stop hurting and be filled with only joyful memories that you will always have. Best wishes to you. Wonderful post, once again. I'm going to check out your recipes, now!!!
My recent post coconut cream muffins

I am so glad you decided to participate and am eager to see your entries and especially to read your cookbook! When is it going to be due?
As far as my trip to Greece, I have simply adjourned it as my adjustment to life in Lebanon turned out to be a lot more complicated than anticipated and I simply did not have the time to take off. I have met countless people here in Lebanon who have been to Greece, and each one is vouching that the place they went to is the best! So I am just going to have to visit all of it! I also want to include Cyprus! So, we are going to meet each other, I am sure of it!
My recent post Bulgur in yogurt sauce Labaniyet al-burghul